Reciprocal Pronoun
The reciprocal pronouns in English are one another and each other. Together with the reflexive pronouns — myself, yourself, ourselves, yourselves, and others — they are classified as anaphors.
Reciprocity is the broader concept, of which reflexivity is a special case. Reciprocity has A relating to B and B relating in exactly the same way to A. Reflexivity is the concept of A reciprocating with itself.
- Reciprocal: A↔B = A→B and A←B = A→B and B→A
- Reflexive: A↔A = A→A and A←A = A→A and A→A = simply A→A
Examples:
- Reciprocal: They all said "Hello" to one another.
- Reflexive: All alone, he had no friends but himself.
The classical Greek reciprocal pronoun was allēlōn (ἀλλἠλων). From this stems the word parallel: para allēlois (παρὰ ἀλλήλοις) "beside each other".
Read more about Reciprocal Pronoun: See Also
Famous quotes containing the words reciprocal and/or pronoun:
“I had no place in any coterie, or in any reciprocal self-advertising. I stood alone. I stood outside. I wanted only to learn. I wanted only to write better.”
—Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945)
“Would mankind be but contented without the continual use of that little but significant pronoun “mine” or “my own,” with what luxurious delight might they revel in the property of others!... But if envy makes me sicken at the sight of everything that is excellent out of my own possession, then will the sweetest food be sharp as vinegar, and every beauty will in my depraved eyes appear as deformity.”
—Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)